Hydrogen energy

The world of energy is changing and hydrogen is one of the energies that constitute a solution to meet the challenges of clean transportation: reduction of greenhouse gases, of pollution in cities, and of dependency on fossil fuels. For more than 40 years, Air Liquide has been developing unique expertise in the mastery of the entire hydrogen chain (production, storage, and distribution).

The deployment of hydrogen-powered electric vehicles

The first hydrogen-powered electric vehicles went on the market in 2013 (Hyundai ix35, Toyota Mirai). Compared to the 100% electric models, these cars are suitable for long-distance travel. Less than five minutes are required to recharge, for an extended range capacity of 500 km. In use, they produce no pollution: zero greenhouse gases, zero particles, and zero noise.

Public transportation is also a promising market. Air Liquide is contributing to the widespread adoption of hydrogen in the transportation sector by supporting the deployment of charging stations that are required worldwide.

An alternative for captive fleets and remote sites

The establishment of captive fleets running on hydrogen can increase productivity while reducing CO₂ emissions at the point of use. The main applications concern the forklift fleets of logistics warehouses or luggage transport vehicle fleets used at airports. Both are high growth hydrogen energy markets.

A silent solution that allows for greater autonomy, hydrogen is also particularly suitable for providing energy to stationary network equipment located remotely (or awaiting connection). This is particularly the case for mobile phone masts.

Blue Hydrogen: Air Liquide's commitment

Blue Hydrogen is an Air Liquide program whose goal is to gradually decarbonize its production of hydrogen dedicated to energy applications.

In practical terms, Air Liquide has made a commitment to produce at least 50% of the hydrogen necessary for these applications through carbon-free processes by 2020 by combining:

Biogas reforming

The use of renewable energies, through water electrolysis

The use of technologies for the capture and upgrading of carbon emitted during the process of producing hydrogen from natural gas

Even when it is produced from natural gas, hydrogen is a virtuous energy: for equal distance traveled, hydrogen cars allow to reduce GHG emissions by 20% compared with internal combustion vehicles and don’t produce any fine particles.

Focus on

cH2ange, hydrogen at the heart of change

cH2ange is an initiative led by the Air Liquide Group on social media (Facebook, Medium, Twitter, LinkedIn). This project revolves around the role hydrogen can play in the energy transition.